337. Checking the Midpoint Reward
337. Checking the Midpoint Reward
***
A lavish high-rise officetel.
In a luxury officetel rumored to house various famous celebrities, a woman lived as if proving that rumor true.
A stylish figure paired with long, flowing, glamorous blonde hair. Perhaps because she was alone, she wore only a thin T-shirt that hinted at the lines of her body and short hot pants. The woman's name was Yoo Chaeri.
The film she had recently appeared in had become a massive hit the moment it opened, and Chaeri, who had taken the lead role, was seeing her name value rise day by day.
Famous brand advertisements came pouring in, as did casting offers from popular programs, and her face, having handled all of it, once again made a huge impression on the public.
But the holiday enjoyed by a woman who had achieved such success was.
Almost surprisingly modest.
...
Click.
Carrying all sorts of high-calorie drinks and food she normally never touched into her room, Chaeri felt her spirits lift.
How long had it been since her last day off? Just thinking about resting made her heart feel endlessly light.
On the large monitor positioned in front of her bedroom, a stream was displayed, its sound filling the room.
"Hmm-hmm~"
In front of the monitor. Sinking her body deep into a plush rabbit cushion, a little hum escaped her without thinking.
Her light mood and how entertaining the stream was created a synergy that made her simply, utterly happy.
Pssht!
As she poured the drink from the can into a cup, the heavy fizz alone felt refreshing just to watch.
"Ah, this is so good."
The words slipped out even as she lifted the cup.
The sharp, prickling sensation lingering in her mouth. How long had it been since she'd tasted this?
After a life of restraint and abstinence, now that the abstinence was lifted, she felt more satisfied and happier than ever.
"This is what a day off is."
She muttered lightly and let out a small laugh.
When had it started? It felt as though the meaning of a holiday had changed after I became a celebrity.
Rather than spending time with someone, going out, visiting a resort, or doing something grand, I'd come to prefer simply spending time by myself.
As my income had skyrocketed over the past few years and my fame had grown, ironically, that tendency of mine had only grown stronger.
While idly entertaining such thoughts and watching the screen, I saw the three women enter a safe zone after finishing Phase 2.
A blonde female knight, a thrall in a black suit, and a dancer with pure white silver hair.
A combination that seemed like it would never fit together. Yet these women, each with such strong individuality, ironically suited each other quite well.
Well enough that I caught myself quietly admiring them while watching the stream.
As I watched them chat during their brief rest, my gaze drifted to one woman.
Jet-black bobbed hair, a woman in a black suit chatting with a bright smile.
'She must really like her, huh.'
I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a Rin fan, but I did have a certain fondness for Rin. Watching Bloody Night's attitude now, a laugh slipped out.
—The skill I used at the end has a lot of restrictions, so I can't normally use it either.
As I watched Rin shake her head with a smile, I grew curious about the chat's reaction.
[What's with the humility lol]
[The dignity of an imperial dancer ;]
[They cleared Phase 2 with a subjugation, insane]
[Honestly just these three doing a talk show would be fun]
[How is their chemistry this good?]
[Fr this is what a goddess looks like]
[Rin's been talking for minutes just thanking donors lol]
[Let's rest a bit thinking about Phase 3]
[No but how are they clearing it with this comp lol]
And as I watched the chat, I found myself tapping at my keyboard too.
Tap tap tap.
[Still, Bloody Night did her job with that Awakening Skill at the end]
I'd started typing in chat while watching the stream, and before I knew it I was doing it almost compulsively.
Stab.
I speared a piece of takoyaki, still steaming, with a fork, blew on it, and brought it to my lips.
Chew chew.
A plump, generously filled giant takoyaki!
As the sauce coating the outside and the springy texture of the octopus danced across my tongue, I felt a small spark of happiness.
—Come to think of it. Like someone in chat said, Yujeong really did play a big role with her Awakening Skill at the end, didn't she?
—I didn't know a vampire's Awakening Skill could be used like that either.
Then I froze without realizing it.
Because Rin on screen had happened to read my chat. Afterward, Plea chimed in too, praising Bloody Night, and I could see Bloody Night nodding slightly in embarrassment.
'Out of all those chats, she read mine?'
Amid the explosive flood of chat from nearly 70,000 viewers, I wondered how Rin had managed to pick out my message specifically, but I couldn't deny that it felt good.
The stream continued in a warm, friendly atmosphere. It was entertaining to watch, even as I wondered whether these were really the same people who'd been fighting the Harpy Queen in a bloody battle just moments before.
By then, I'd eaten about seven pieces of takoyaki while watching the stream.
I felt like I finally understood why people watched internet streams.
"...It's already past 5 p.m."
It had already been over an hour since I'd started watching.
It was easy to watch, and it didn't stir up any complicated thoughts. Rather, precisely because it was so simple, it was pleasant to keep watching.
On this precious day off, the stream was entertaining enough that I didn't even feel the need to log into Another World.
While I continued watching the stream—
"Hnnn."
I could feel myself grinning goofily out of habit. When I realized I was making strange sounds, brushing back my hair, gesturing with my hands, and doing all sorts of things, I stopped moving without meaning to.
'What am I doing?'
I wasn't even in Louise Tepes's form right now. Realizing how strangely I'd been acting, I glanced around without thinking. There was no one else here besides me.
I flinched at the thought, then stared blankly for a moment.
'Does it even matter...?'
There was no one here but me anyway. Wasn't I overreacting? There was no one around to judge me.
"..."
I knew that the way I spoke and acted as Louise Tepes in the game would look utterly bizarre in reality.
I knew it was incredibly childish and that other people would find it strange. Still, acting that way in Another World had become a habit.
They were things I couldn't do in reality while living as the film actress Yoo Chaeri.
Because acting that way, even if only inside the game, gave me a small sense of liberation.
I stopped thinking for a moment, picked up another piece of takoyaki, and brought it to my mouth.
"...Hmm."
I deliberately tried making a sound like Louise Tepes, then let out a self-deprecating laugh at my own foolishness.
But I was alone anyway. No one was watching, so what did it matter?
Ding!
Then a notification sounded from the stream, and my gaze went to it without thinking.
*
————
【Subjugation of Zervallua, Beast of Destruction】
Progress: Phase 2 cleared.
Rewards acquired: ???
Checking rewards during the raid will consume a certain amount of silver coins.
Spend 1,000,000 silver coins?
[Y / N]
————
*
—Ah. Since everyone's curious, I'll check it now.
Along with Rin's soft voice, the hologram on screen began displaying additional information.
***
[Checking the reward will consume 1,000,000 silver coins. Do you still wish to check?]
Even with the warning notification, they proceeded, and something new appeared over the hologram.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling!
A brilliant sound rang out as a dazzling wave of gold filled my vision, and when the light faded, a gold-tinted hologram radiated its presence.
*
————
Rewards acquired: Ancient Relic Chest - Relics of Griadga, Riley's Steel Bracelet.
————
*
Even as I looked at the item list displayed as the reward, I wasn't sure what to make of it.
'A relic chest?'
I didn't quite understand what a relic chest was.
Slide. I glanced at the two people who had pressed close against me to look as well.
"It's a relic!?"
"...Relics were items that could drop from Phase 2?"
As Sua and Yujeong reacted in different ways, I couldn't help but ask.
"Is a relic a good thing?"
It was a type of item I'd never seen before, but even the name made it sound unusual.
At my reaction, the two of them looked at me with slight surprise, then began explaining the item.
"If it's a relic chest, you can consider it a really good item. On top of that, the Griadga modifier means it's a collection with a higher chance of Mythic items, so it's worth aiming for a jackpot... and Riley's Bracelet is probably around 60 million silver coins among Legendary items?"
"It should be worth about that much. And it seems like this is your first time seeing a relic, Rin. If you look at the detailed stats, you'll understand right away."
Yujeong pressed herself close against me and naturally touched the hologram, bringing up a more detailed display.
*
————
Ancient Relic Chest - Relics of Griadga
Grade: ???
- Description: A relic chest containing one piece of equipment once owned by a figure of House Griadga. When opened, you can obtain up to a Mythic item! (However, quest and bound-only items cannot be obtained.)
*Demonic Energy Corruption: A special relic chest that maintains its sanctity even while affected by demonic energy.
(Mythic grade probability increased by 5%!)
[Inviolable: This item cannot be duplicated]
————
*
"Wow. With a Demonic Energy Corruption trait on top of that, it's a relic chest worth at least 500 million."
As Sua examined the detailed information and added her explanation, my eyes widened slightly.
'But in the end, isn't it just a random box?'
They called it a relic chest, but to me it felt strongly like a random box dressed up under a different name. Even its grade was displayed vaguely, which made it feel suspicious. Sure, it said it could contain an item as high as Mythic, but...
But that was just a nice way of saying a Mythic could come out, and if you were unlucky, you could get Unique equipment too.
Then I noticed something serious.
"Wait. So the rewards we've gotten so far are two?"
I was only realizing it now, but contrary to my assumption that we'd each get different rewards, the other two were looking at the same reward as me.
"Yes. You have two, Serin. Why?"
"We cleared up to Phase 2, so two is right. Don't tell me this is your first raid, Rin?"
At how matter-of-factly Sua and the others answered, I hesitated for a moment and nodded. There had been no raid system like this in Black Ark.
Except for the final boss, Zervallua, Beast of Destruction, everything here was an unfamiliar system.
As I wondered whether raids were always like this, one question came to mind.
'Then how do we split the rewards?'
It seemed really complicated.
"Um... I think I know what you're thinking, Serin. Can I try to guess?"
When Sua teased me, I saw Yujeong beside her let out a small laugh.
"Isn't it just... the Auction House or splitting it evenly?"
I gave what I thought was the most reasonable answer.
Why was it? Sua bit her lip tightly and shook her head side to side.
The mischief brimming in Sua's eyes, that strange expression as if she wanted to bite her—just as she was looking at it.
The answer came.